May 9, 2012 
There are currently 400,000 patients awaiting state-funded, public dental care – some have been waiting two years. As part of an overall dental funding package of $515.3 million, $345.9 million will be spent over three years to reduce public dental waiting lists. The remaining funding will provide:
- Extended voluntary dental graduate program – $35.7 million
- Oral health therapist graduate program – $42.5 million
- Grants to relocate dentists to rural, regional and remote areas – $77.7 million
- Oral health promotion – $10.5 million
